3 ms·

If there's any heightened danger due to the voltage, I'm pretty sure that it is offset by the safer design of the plugs themselves. European plugs fit much more

If there's any heightened danger due to the voltage, I'm pretty sure that it is offset by the safer design of the plugs themselves. European plugs fit much more snugly into their sockets and require noticeable force to insert and remove, and their pins are much harder to bend out of alignment than North American plugs. Plugs falling or sliding out of their sockets are virtually unheard of with a standard combination of European plug and socket, but it seems to be a common occurrence with North American plugs.

mcv 7y ago
I notice that some USB adapters don't fit in some extension cords because their pins are slightly out of alignment. No idea why they do that, but it's getting annoying. As for electrocution: I can speak from experience, having been electrocuted by my 3 year old son when he wanted to turn on the light while I was fixing it. Really annoying, but it didn't kill me. (There might be some selection bias involved, though.)
- tomatocracy 7y ago
  At least in the UK, any new electrical domestic installation must be protected by RCDs (which protect human life from electrocution in the event of ground fault by disconnecting phase quickly enough) and not just MCBs or fuses (which are to reduce the risk of electrical fire from occurring in the wiring due to too much current being carried). I think this has been the rule now for c15 years so depending on your installation it might have been that that saved you.
  - mcv 7y ago
    It could very well be that one of those saved my life, and I'd have been dead without it.
- blattimwind 7y ago
  > I notice that some USB adapters don't fit in some extension cords because their pins are slightly out of alignment. No idea why they do that, but it's getting annoying. That's intentional for Euro plugs. They are meant to flex slightly upon insertion to ensure contact and holding force, because their pins are thinner than what the socket normally accepts.
  - mcv 7y ago
    It's resulting in them not fitting in many power strips, though. It's a bad idea.
    - blattimwind 7y ago
      Then they are out of tolerance.
zaarn 7y ago
Should be noted that GFCI devices are MUCH more common; they're mandatory to be installed for the entire house, so the entire circuit benefits, not only in bathrooms or missing entirely like common in the US. I've survived quite a few shocks thanks to the GFCI removing voltage from the socket.

mcv 7y ago

I notice that some USB adapters don't fit in some extension cords because their pins are slightly out of alignment. No idea why they do that, but it's getting annoying. As for electrocution: I can speak from experience, having been electrocuted by my 3 year old son when he wanted to turn on the light while I was fixing it. Really annoying, but it didn't kill me. (There might be some selection bias involved, though.)

tomatocracy 7y ago
At least in the UK, any new electrical domestic installation must be protected by RCDs (which protect human life from electrocution in the event of ground fault by disconnecting phase quickly enough) and not just MCBs or fuses (which are to reduce the risk of electrical fire from occurring in the wiring due to too much current being carried). I think this has been the rule now for c15 years so depending on your installation it might have been that that saved you.
- mcv 7y ago
  It could very well be that one of those saved my life, and I'd have been dead without it.
blattimwind 7y ago
> I notice that some USB adapters don't fit in some extension cords because their pins are slightly out of alignment. No idea why they do that, but it's getting annoying. That's intentional for Euro plugs. They are meant to flex slightly upon insertion to ensure contact and holding force, because their pins are thinner than what the socket normally accepts.
- mcv 7y ago
  It's resulting in them not fitting in many power strips, though. It's a bad idea.
  - blattimwind 7y ago
    Then they are out of tolerance.

zaarn 7y ago

Should be noted that GFCI devices are MUCH more common; they're mandatory to be installed for the entire house, so the entire circuit benefits, not only in bathrooms or missing entirely like common in the US. I've survived quite a few shocks thanks to the GFCI removing voltage from the socket.